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Reimold hopes to be ready for Spring Training

Reimold hopes to be ready for Spring Training

BALTIMORE -- Nolan Reimold was in the Orioles' clubhouse Friday afternoon, and the outfielder spoke with reporters for the first time since undergoing season-ending neck surgery at the end of June.

"I think it will be pretty regular," Reimold said of his offseason. "I went up here to see the surgeon, got some X-rays. The bone is fusing together, but it's not quite totally done. So once that's totally fused, he said he would clear me to do normal activities."

Reimold, who started in left field on Opening Day and hopes to be ready for Spring Training, hit .313 with five homers, 10 RBIs and a .627 slugging percentage in 67 at-bats before hitting the disabled list at the end of April. His surgery was performed by neurosurgeon Dr. Ziya Gokaslan at Johns Hopkins Hospital and involved removing the herniated disk and fusing two vertebrae together to make the area stronger than it had been even when he was healthy.

Reimold, who had several epidural injections before deciding to undergo surgery, said the numbness in his arm is still "patchy" but clearing up.

"They said the strength and feeling are two separate things that would come back at separate times," said the 28-year-old. "They even said if the feeling never comes back, it's fine as long as the strength comes back."

Reimold has been rehabbing at his home in Florida and said he would like to travel with the team if it reaches the postseason. The Orioles entered Friday's game a game back of the Yankees in the American League East and in possession of one of two AL Wild Card spots.

Asked what it's like to watch from afar, Reimold said it's been bittersweet.

"It's hard to be away, especially when the team is having so much success. You want to be a part of it," Reimold said, "but I'm happy for the guys, happy for the team, the organization and the fans that they were able to be such a good team this year and prove everybody wrong. Just hopefully they keep it going, finish strong and get in the playoffs."

Once Reimold is cleared to fully resume activities, he will get back in baseball shape, but in the meantime, he has been working out and lifting lighter weights.

"I wanted to thank [Orioles managing partner] Mr. [Peter] Angelos publicly," Reimold said. "He stepped in and made sure I got the best doctors, the best surgeons, the best care and everything taken care of for me. So I'm very appreciative to him and his family, and also to [special assistant Brady Anderson], because Brady is the one who went to him and told him my situation and he stepped in and got me the best care. So I wanted to thank him."